Downloading apps from the Play Store is nearly impossible - Android General

So yesterday I had FiOS installed at my house. I have the 50/35mbps tier. Now on both my Nexus 4 and my Note II, if they're connected to my FiOS Wi-Fi, Play Store app downloads are EXCRUCIATINGLY slow! I'm talking about it takes 15 minutes to download a 4mb app! Browsing the play store is as fast as you'd expect. Screenshots in pages load instantly as do videos. But tapping install is the most painful process you've ever seen! It's slower than EDGE! The speedtest.net app on my phone is showing well over 30mbps which is around the limits of what Wi-Fi is capable of. What's going on? It feels like the Play Store is being throttled but that's crazy!

The YouTube app is also VERY slow. This is kinda unacceptable..

Same here
Dr. Hax said:
The YouTube app is also VERY slow. This is kinda unacceptable..
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Google play and youtube are both deathly slow at night. Takes hours to download a 10MB app, and youtube videos fail to load or buffer every other second. I have 20/5 FiOS and can get those numbers easily with any speed test. A proxy/VPN resolves the issue, so it's Verizon's fault somewhere along the line. I've been looking for a solution for over a year now and still haven't found one. Calling the service unacceptable is going very easy on them.

Same issue here. So freaking weird. Downloading form the play store is slow as hell. I am force to use my phone hotspot.
I know for a fact its a combination of FiOS and Play Store.
Tablet + using my t-mobile hotspot, Play Store download is fine.
Tablet + Wifi = Play Store download is impossible.
Tablet + ethernet using OTG Host = Same problem. I even try a different router. Same problem.
Only Play Store is a problem. I can browse fine.

Hello,
This has been happening for over a year but it has been getting worse region by region. This **** needs front page news on tech sites.
For all that wonder the issue is with ISP's CDN (Cache servers), I had problems for the past year with youtube all devices. Now this has crossed over to Android apps and this is messed up. I have 75 mbps and download @ 10MB per sec on most services at any time. Only Google is effected.
Most apps have a 39 HOUR download time!
Youtube has been for a year, about 1.5 weeks Google play just got thrown under the bus on CDN servers. There is nothing wrong with you equipment or your network.
Everybody send this into Engadget, Verge and etc.
Look at the searches: https://www.google.com/search?q=fios+youtube+fix
**EDIT**
You can also try blocking a range of CDN servers from your device or router (for all devices) this does not work for all because you have to find your ISP's CDN IP block, then block those IP's. You can also see the network drop, on you you tube play a music video then right click "Video Info" then you will see the download speed for the video go 0kbps to 100 kbps to 0 kbps, over and over.

Related

Netflix subscribers in Puerto Rico & US territories

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but it seemed to be the most appropriate... AFAIK Netflix streaming has never worked on a broadband connection on the island because they're identified as foreign or outside of the continental US or whatever. However, it seems that for Netflix's purpose, a Sprint connection from PR still looks like any other connection from within the US; probably because of the way it's routed. It's kinda odd considering other services like Google Voice can still make the distinction, but I'm sure there's dozens of way to do this filtering (for instance, Tivo also thinks my DVR is in the US if I tether it to my phone).
So what good is any of this knowledge? Well, the Netflix app will stream to your phone just fine over 3G; even tho it'll flash a region warning on wifi. I hear your now tho, what's the point of that? 3G streaming looks pretty bad, specially in areas with low signal where you're lucky to get 400 kbps...
Well, I'm not done, otherwise this post would be rather worthless wouldn't it? Open that oh-so-easily fooled Netflix app (seriously, it took them this long to release an app that merely discriminates amongst phones by build.prop?), start streaming over 3G, turn on Wifi, enjoy the improved quality as the phone starts to stream over Wifi without any location checks. That's all there is to it! I was able to pause and resume after switching to Wifi with no issues. I imagine it might get fixed eventually, or not, but for now it works.
I haven't tested to see if their site is just as easily fooled by a computer tethered to my phone, but since you can't handoff between different connections there quite as smoothly I guess it's kinda moot... I haven't been a Netflix subscriber for very long, just started testing it out. Frankly I'm kinda disappointed in their online catalog of movies and shows, over half the stuff I first searched for wasn't available (Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, several movies, etc.).
Netflix on my Tivo also works if I tether it to my phone but that's a hassle (on the Tivo's end) and again, Sprint 3G really isn't fast enough for smooth playback, at least where I live (near Buchanan base). Can't wait until 4G is deployed here...
BTW Has anyone tested how Netflix app playback looks on a TV if you output it over HDMI with Full HDMI? I'll probably give it a shot later. Altho I might just drop Netflix and go back to renting off Redbox to be honest.
Workaround for Netflix block
I live in the USVI and we too are blocked from using Netflix. I posted a few articles on my blog though that explains how I've worked around this block:
How to use Netflix streaming, Amazon Instant Video and MP3 from outside the US
Installing DD-WRT mega Build on a Linksys E3000 Router to Run with HMA Pro! VPN Services
I hope these help! I've been happily streaming for quite a while now, it's great.
Sean
i would love using hdmi out with netflix!
Well I am from the south of the island and I can tell you with the latest release of it that pretty much shut down the Wifi idea tried it and did not stream at all but for those on the island I recommend an app called sensorly you can get it on the regular market it shows you where you get your signal on a map like Google maps it gives you all the signal ranges and ladies and gents they just recently started to test 4G in two areas only San Juan and ponce and to tell you that the app worked flawlessly is an understatement cause i drove from arroyo to ponce and once I reached the sprint store there I was able to get 4G when I walked into the store asked one of the CS reps and he said they are in the testing faze and once that is done they will do a roll-out with commercials and advertisements so good news for all us island folk so with netflix to be continued...
The netflix app hasn't been updated since I posted this, it should still work... You have to switch from 3G to Wifi once you're already streaming something.

Anyone else experiencing insane amounts of data usage?

I mean I rarely use the phone, much less 100+ Mb at a time, but looking at my usage log im at 4.75gb!!!!
HOW, I never used to go above 2.5gb on my G2. The only thing that may be causing the high usage could be the new google music app. I uninstalled it to see if its the culprit, and if it is then its going to suck because i really liked and even started depending on that app.
Here are a few screenshots of my t-mobile logs.
Please someone shed some light on this!!!
So reference that date and time and check to see when that Google music app was installed. If you are streaming, you will rack up the GeeBees.
Theres no way I would stream 300+ mb of music...i used to listen to online radio and not even pandora will use so much data in such a short amount of time.
It would be great if someone else who has the google app can chime in
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
If this is the result of using the Google Music service, then I'm glad that I decided not to use it and uninstalled it from my phone. I was really worried about how this would affect data usage, especially considering the data "cap" that T-Mobile has in place.
Google backup
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Camille68 said:
If this is the result of using the Google Music service, then I'm glad that I decided not to use it and uninstalled it from my phone. I was really worried about how this would affect data usage, especially considering the data "cap" that T-Mobile has in place.
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Click to collapse
If it is the Google music app, then each song is being streamed at like 20mb or something which is ridiculous.
Ugh and I REALLY liked it, I had 300 songs up there already and enjoying the cloud service.
Is there another app that is similar? Anyone know?
EDIT: I have uninstalled it and will report back at the end of the day to see if data usage has returned to normal levels, if it has then my only conclusion is that it was the Google music service.
Amazon cloud service for music is similar I believe
yes my usage had doubled and I do not use any cloud based services. I have gone from 1gb of data usage a month up to over 2gb
google music is the problem yesterday I did a test
checked data usage was at around 250 mb
streamed music for 2 hours
checked data usage it was over 900 mb
WTF 650 mb for 2 hours of streaming
it dont even make sense your better off just making available offline if you wat to listen to music
sellingfear said:
google music is the problem yesterday I did a test
checked data usage was at around 250 mb
streamed music for 2 hours
checked data usage it was over 900 mb
WTF 650 mb for 2 hours of streaming
it dont even make sense your better off just making available offline if you wat to listen to music
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Click to collapse
That's just insane!
Evofusion said:
Theres no way I would stream 300+ mb of music...i used to listen to online radio and not even pandora will use so much data in such a short amount of time.
It would be great if someone else who has the google app can chime in
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
So, was my hypothesis correct that GMusic was the culprit?
So, as a sanity check, I took OP's first block of usage as a test:
~130MB usage in one hour
= 1.04Gb
/ 3,600 seconds in an hour
= 289Kbps
I'm guessing that the bitrate for GMusic is dependent on the song, but has an upper threshold somewhere to ensure quality (i.e. GMusic will compress 360Kbps to sub-300 to ensure stream quality).
Seems to me that 289Kbps is a bit high, but within reasonable bounds for higher-quality streaming. Did I do the math right?
ThirdDeviation said:
So, as a sanity check, I took OP's first block of usage as a test:
~130MB usage in one hour
= 1.04Gb
/ 3,600 seconds in an hour
= 289Kbps
I'm guessing that the bitrate for GMusic is dependent on the song, but has an upper threshold somewhere to ensure quality (i.e. GMusic will compress 360Kbps to sub-300 to ensure stream quality).
Seems to me that 289Kbps is a bit high, but within reasonable bounds for higher-quality streaming. Did I do the math right?
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You may be right, if I actually streamed music for the entire hour, which I don't believe I did... I would maybe listen to about 4 or 5 songs max, I mean just look at what a previous poster said before me...he used 600mb in 2 hours of constant streaming.. Which comes out to 300mb/h...do the math there and see what the bitrate comes out to.
Either way, after uninstalling google music my data usage has returned to normal levels. I will post a screen shot when I get on a computer.
Something fishy is going on with the way google music streams music
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Based on what I've gleaned from Google searches, here's what I calculated:
First some hard numbers --
• 1 Mb = 1,000 Kb = 1,000,000 bits
• 1 MBps = 8 Mbps
• Google Music Streams at a maximum of 320 Kbps
• 60 minutes = 3600 seconds
So if you stream Google Music at its maximum bitrate nonstop for a full hour this is how it works out --
320 Kbps × 3600 = 1,152,000 Kb/hr
1,152,000 Kb/hr ÷ 1,000 = 1,152 Mb/hr
1,152 Mb/hr ÷ 8 = 144 MB/hr
So the most the music streaming itself could use on the download side of things is 144 MB/hr. Perhaps the app is downloading/uploading other data as well tho as part of the streaming process? I'm not sure.
I have my Google Music app to stream over wifi only.
It's a little lower at about 140MB/hr since it's 1024K, not 1000K.
GideonX said:
It's a little lower at about 140MB/hr since it's 1024K, not 1000K.
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Click to collapse
There are 1000Kb (kilobits) in a Mb (megabit).
1024 KB (kilobytes) in a MB (megabyte).
My math is sound.
Somehow I had it in my head we were storing data. Your calcs should be correct then.
GideonX said:
Somehow I had it in my head we were storing data. Your calcs should be correct then.
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Click to collapse
Lol yea I hate calculating megabits and megabytes, etc. I always get confused at some point.
To the OP, can you check in your settings and see if caching is enabled? If it is, your music is being downloaded first before playing. To truly make it stream, you need to disable it I believe. This might be another reason for a rise in data usage?

Anyone haiving YouTube buffering issues?

This thing is such a beast on web surfing I assumed YouTube would scream as well but I seem to be experienccng significant buffering issues, especiially on HD video.
Anyone else seeing this and can recommend a solution?
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
So no feedback on this? Seems like I am having major buffering issues. The web screams on this. What gives.
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
Cannot say I have had any issues.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
I had severe buffering issues with my Infinity that I returned and when I was playing with the Note at BB it was taking forever to buffer on YouTube but I chalked that up to BB poor/overloaded WiFi. Hoping when my 32g Note arrives this week it buffers better on my home WiFi. I'll update as soon as my Note arrives.
Sent from my AT&T Samsung GSIII
mitchellvii said:
So no feedback on this? Seems like I am having major buffering issues. The web screams on this. What gives.
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm a similar experience... great web speed but not great youtube. Only tried one video and wrote it off as a bad feed until seeing your post. Will test further.
hchxoom said:
I can confirm a similar experience... great web speed but not great youtube. Only tried one video and wrote it off as a bad feed until seeing your post. Will test further.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue seems to be if you have the video set to HD. Must be a YouTube specific issue as this tablet gets excellent WiFi signal. Hmmm will have to contact Samsung about this, should have no YouTube lag at all one tablet of this quality.
Is there an app that helps cache YouTube for android like there is for PC's?
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
Are you sure that you have the most recent version? I was having this issue but I updated over the weekend and it's now it seems to be gone. :fingers-crossed:
Scotlac said:
Are you sure that you have the most recent version? I was having this issue but I updated over the weekend and it's now it seems to be gone. :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe I do.
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
Haven't had this issue with updated YouTube version 4.0.23. Been playing a lot of Lady Gagy videos to test since they're high quality HD with clean sound. They start within a few seconds of clicking and buffer far in advance of play with no pause over a wimpy 4864/768kbps DSL. Suggest updating the app and making sure your broadband can play on another device such as PC/laptop and if on WIFI try a different channel with less interference from other access points.
No issues whatsoever using the YouTube App or playing YouTube videos from within Opera or the stock browser.
mi7chy said:
Haven't had this issue with updated YouTube version 4.0.23. Been playing a lot of Lady Gagy videos to test since they're high quality HD with clean sound. They start within a few seconds of clicking and buffer far in advance of play with no pause over a wimpy 4864/768kbps DSL. Suggest updating the app and making sure your broadband can play on another device such as PC/laptop and if on WIFI try a different channel with less interference from other access points.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should check out the VEVO app. Video quality mucc better ands lots of GaGa.
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1
Horrible buffering on my EVO 4g LTE
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
The problem with lag-diagnosis always is to exactly find out WHERE in the chain of data transmission ther might be a lag:
An example:
I open the browser, search and find an American site (which might be complex, buggy, not coded minimalisticly) hosted on an American server and want to load it:
I call the site
Now if the server is very busy my request will be delayed (waiting circle), then the data packets are transferred from host server to regional node then to a central node, then to the undersea data cable to the European central node, then to a local node and then to me home to my router. In alot of cases the data transferral is even much more complex and inclides many more transferral steps.
Now the data packets are transmitted from the router via WiFi to my SGN10.1:
Also here a lot of obstacles could reduce the transferral rate of the data packets and cause a lagginess: distance, how many WiFi devices are connected to the router and are they active or not (e.g. in case my 3 other Galaxy devices and notebook download updates from the Play-store data transferral rate drops to almost zero) or is there another device producing electromagnetic disturbances so that data packets are distorted and have to be reloaded.
Only if all data packets are transferred at maximum speed and arrive undistorted and You find a lag THEN You can speak of a device's lagginess and even THEN You might not know if the lag is not produced by the device itself but some other background apps or apps that secretely send infos or download/upload bloat thus blocking Your processor or surfing.
On 3G/HSP/LTE the issue could be even worse if the PROVIDER decides that everytime there is an interruption in the data transferral the data connection is interrupted to give other participants logged to the cell/radio mast more bandwidth. And THIS differs a lot between different providers HOW they handle the requests for bandwidth. (If You are on 3G You can see this on the graph for the battery in settings how the reception is and this differs a lot even if You don´t move the device from the spot)
You can blame a device to be laggy only when data stored in the internal memory and are scrolled through show lagginess.

Hbo go now available on the nexus player!!!

As of today, you can now download HBO GO directly from the Google Play store on the Nexus Player! No more side loading and having to use a mouse / keyboard-track pad combo. I have tested it out already and it is working great so far!
I know this isn't a huge deal but it is much more convenient being able to download it on the playstore and use the original remote.
Awesome, can't wait til I get home to fire this up.
Only missing Amazon Instant Video now....
Lolento said:
Only missing Amazon Instant Video now....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We probably have a better chance of winning the lottery than Amazon releasing an official remote compatible app for the nexus player...
Unless I'm missing something, it appears HBO GO for Android TV is not supported by Comcast. Won't let me activate.
I found that it works much better on the NP than the AFTV. Just a smoother, quicker experience.
Now if we can just get WatchESPN I'll have everything I need.
Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk
northend999 said:
Unless I'm missing something, it appears HBO GO for Android TV is not supported by Comcast. Won't let me activate.
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Click to collapse
Ouch! I did read that actually. For some reason, Comcast subscribers can not currently log into HBO Go on Android TV. I have no idea why either. Luckily I use my parents Dish Network / Netflix login for all of my app needs. (HBO GO, FX Now, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc etc) I pay $40 a month for 60mbps Internet from Charter and that is it. I will never subscribe to cable!
What on earth is going on with comcast again. So tiring of getting tangled up in a new controversy of theirs every month. Last month was the introduction of data caps, now android tv blocking. Can't comprehend how google allowed this. I am speculating we got in the middle of whatever animosity and rivalry they have with Sony. Playstation 3 as well exhibits same issue and doesnt allow activation of the hbogo app if comcast is the provider. I am thinking since sony comes with android tv, they ended up blacklisting the whole platform at its totality.
this also works on my razer forge but I had to sideload APK.
ps. anyone else just getting black screen when playing video/s ? audio works fine. HBO GO is only app that behaves this way.
Arstechnica had a good article on net neutrality with a link to FCC to post your complaints.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/06/the-fcc-will-now-take-your-net-neutrality-complaints/
I'll be filing one for the hbo blocking across many different streaming devices.
Well not sure why but a standard VPN can't bypass the Geoblocks maybe some special location checking going on?
Haxxa said:
Well not sure why but a standard VPN can't bypass the Geoblocks maybe some special location checking going on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can confirm that: DNS solution doesn't work either, but the normal Android apk I sideloaded works as usual.
Regards to the comcast problem, Fire TV had the same issue initially where comcast was the hold out. They joined later on but not sure what made that happen.
as of 03/19/2016, comcast is still not allowing activation on nexus player / android tv for HBO GO or HBO NOW. unbelievable! I cant wait for Google Fiber to end the Comcast Xfinity Reign of Terror.

Google Will Allow You To Stream Apps Without Downloading Them

Google has started testing streaming apps! This allows you to use an app without ever actually downloading the app. The app is streamed through Google search. If your search turns up an app in the results there will be an option to stream the app. This cloud based technology will allow you to experience the app as if it were fully installed on your device.
This could be huge for anyone who owns a phone with little to no memory. This could also mean that phones of the future may ship with even less memory built in. Could you imagine a future where google charges you for a box where you house your streaming apps? Hopefully this is not anything Google is considering. It seems to be a pretty awesome feature.It will work as long as you are on wifi. Head to Google and check it out!

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